The 2022 season of girls swimming is well underway as the team prepares for a full schedule of approaching competitions and practices.

Practices are every day after school, lasting approximately an hour and a half to two hours. Duals meets, when Shorewood competes with only one other school, happen weekly. Less frequently, the team participates in invitational meets; these meets are generally larger and involve a greater number of competing schools. 

Further into the season, the team will take part in a number of important competitions.

“We have our conference meet, sectional meet, and then state meet,” said Elise Jacobs, senior. “In the season we have conference relays, which is a meet just full of fun relays in the conference.”

Cassie Rodriguez, head coach, graduated from Shorewood High School in 2005 and has been coaching the swim team for 6 years.

“I swam here too, so I know not only how great this program has been, but I understand the academic side of Shorewood [as well as] the athletic side,” Rodriguez said.

With only 10 members participating, the team is particularly small this year. 

“There are some teams that have a lot of people but they might not have as good of swimmers,” Rodriguez said. “I think the challenge is to get these girls to see that they are great, and even with 10 people they can still win meets, they can still compete to win the top at different invites.”

Even though the small number might pose a challenge in meets, it also gives the team the advantage of familiarity.

“I definitely feel like this year, because we are a smaller team, we’re way more connected,” said Jacobs. “We’re all able to motivate each other in practice.”

Although the swim team had to make changes for the Covid pandemic in 2020, they are now fully transitioned back to usual.

“This year is more just really getting back to the normal of things.” Rodriguez said. “I think our biggest adjustment was from the 2020 season to the 2021 season.”

Rodriguez encourages anyone interested in the team to consider joining, no matter their level of experience.

“If people are ever curious about it, they are welcome to come by the pool anytime to just check it out.”